We all agree that Shinnyo En is not Shingon! That's a fact! But it has some background on it! But as you said, he was married, but received Tokudo, ie. ordination, in order to receive higher teachings and an Acharya degree from Daigoji. At least as the Org. claims so! I believe before Meiji era all Shingon monastics were celibate! Marriage being a Meiji innovation. Shingon monastics receive on Tokudo a 250 precepts. They must be celibate during training! This is a pre requisite in order to receive full abhisheka and become an acharya. I have no clue how Daigoji manages this, bu this is the norm in Koyasan!jake wrote:I think it might be worth reminding readers, however, that Shinnyo-en is not a form of Shingon, nor is it recognized by anyone as such. It is a New Religion as they clearly state in their own history.
In TB you can receive a full HYT abhisheka and samaya with only the lay refuge vows and precepts, bodhisattva and tantric vows. No need of Tokudo beforehand and intensive training! Many lamas may ask you before to fulfill a complete or even a partial ngondro (this is a standard in Gelug, but not so much in other Schoolas)!
Shinnyo En seems to replicate this idea, by giving access to the laity to more secretive practices. But this is just my personal perception!